Stella Awards 2020: Best On-Site Support Staff

The Stella Awards recognize suppliers that deliver quality service and innovation to event professionals.
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NORTHEAST

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Gold: Inns of Aurora

Tucked away in New York's Finger Lakes region is the Inns of Aurora, which prides itself on luxurious hospitality and impeccable service. From the culinary staff, who utilize their passion for locally sourced products to provide authentic farm-to-table cuisine, to the sales and events team, all staff members are committed to providing personalized and immersive experiences for the hotel's guests. 

Meeting planners can take advantage of complimentary high-speed internet throughout the property and audiovisual services. A dedicated events team is also available to organize and host an event, from beginning to end. In addition, trained staff members lead group activities, including yoga and art classes, tea blending sessions, wine tastings and more.

Silver: Seaport Hotel

The Seaport Hotel in Boston offers sweeping views of the city harbor and an onsite support team dedicated to exceeding client expectations. The hotel's sales, culinary and convention services staff members are driven to create meetings that impress, regardless of size or scope. The Seaport's sales and conference team includes many Certified Meeting Professionals, as well as staff members who are Certified in Exhibition Management. Together, the team has a combined 350 years of industry experience and aims to work alongside each planner, from event inception to execution. 

Bronze: Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront features 80,000 square feet of flexible venue space, the latest audiovisual technology and a dedicated team to bring it all together. The hotel's professional planners, creative caterers and audiovisual technicians are all on hand to help organizations customize the meeting space to their needs and ensure event success.

SOUTHEAST

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GoldCasa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Mile Hotel

Casa Marina is home to the most meeting space in Key West, along with an award-winning staff prepared to help planners execute flawless events. The resort, which celebrated its centennial in 2020, has seen many longstanding groups return to the property over the years. For example, Flagstar Bank has hosted three events at the hotel over the past five years. "Returning to Casa Marina is like returning home after a long getaway," said a Flagstar Bank representative. "As an event planner, I do not have to stress over the little details as the staff at Casa Marina are taking care of it before I have an opportunity to ask."

Casa Marina is a one-stop destination, with 11,000 square feet of meeting space, onsite catering, audiovisual equipment and exciting group activities ranging from sunset sails to jet ski excursions. A hands-on team of industry veterans ensure the entire event is seamless, from the planning process to post-departure.

Silver: Rosen Centre

The Rosen Centre Hotel combines exemplary service with top-notch meeting space. The Orlando property features more than 150,000 square feet of event space, a wide variety of technical equipment and an award-winning catering staff. Many employees have been with the property for 10 or more years. With a retention rate much higher than the industry average, Rosen associates are experienced, knowledgeable and empowered to offer valuable, on-the-spot solutions to meeting planners in a way that typical corporate hotels can't match.

Bronze: Hilton Orlando

Hilton Orlando strives to make event planning as simple and seamless as possible. The hotel's team of experts can help event organizers every step of the way, from coordinating details to customizing the meeting space to fit their needs. Hilton Orlando also offers onsite and remote technical support, as well as a dedicated technology senior sales manager.

Finalist: Fairlane Hotel

Just steps from the Cumberland Rivers in Nashville's downtown business and arts district is the Fairlane Hotel. Opened in 2018, the venue features free WiFi and accommodating conference rooms, outfitted with the latest technology. Expert planning and superb dining outlets round out the Fairlane Hotel's offerings. 

Finalist: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is home to the city's largest ballroom, at 12,000 square feet. In total, the luxury hotel on the southwest coast of Florida offers approximately 60,000 square feet of event space, along with meeting specialists and in-house audiovisual services provided by PSAV. A dedicated group activities team is also available to craft memorable team building activities, guided tours, fitness breaks and more.

MIDWEST

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Gold: InterContinental Chicago Magnificent 

The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Hotel is a staple of the Windy City, dating back to 1929. The historic hotel occupies a prime location along the Magnificent Mile, and just two blocks from the Chicago River. Nearly 45,000 square feet of flexible event space await, including modern ballrooms and ornate meeting spaces outfitted with wood carvings and crystal chandeliers. 

The venue offers expert planning services and high-tech A/V for groups of all sizes. Full-service catering is also available, including an onsite kosher kitchen. The InterContinental's team of seasoned chefs have curated mouthwatering menus for anything from an intimate luncheon to a multi-course gala.

Silver: theWit Hotel

TheWit Hotel in Chicago's theater district features 14 meeting rooms and approximately 13,500 square feet of event space. Event organizers have access to a variety of catering options, as well as state-of-the-art A/V equipment.

Bronze: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa

Tucked away on 1,300 acres in the woodlands of Lake Geneva, Wis., is the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. In addition to 62,000 square feet of conference space, the resort features specialized staff members for event planning, catering, team building activities and more. Onsite audiovisual experts can work with event planners on custom configurations for the conference rooms, including unique WiFi names and bandwidth prioritization. Grand Geneva also offers in-room child care and a daily recreational program to keep kids busy while the parents attend the conference.

SOUTHWEST

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Gold: The Broadmoor

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., boasts an impressive 315,000 square feet of meeting space and over 100 years of award-winning hospitality. Its robust team of event specialists include culinary experts and advanced audiovisual professionals. In addition, The Broadmoor's dedicated conference staff assists event organizers with every aspect of planning, including interacting with attendees and providing critical services. 

To ensure the highest levels of hospitality and customer service, The Broadmoor offers more than 50 classes for employees. Each new team member must complete over 175 hours of training in their first year, not including individual departmental training. These rigorous standards are part of the venue's goal to go above and beyond guest expectations in every area of service.

Silver: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center

The Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center takes great pride in its on-site support staff, which was named Hyatt's event team of the year in 2019. The full-service event team includes audiovisual support, vendor management, catering services and meeting planning. 

Bronze: AT&T Hotel and Conference Center

The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center features 53 meeting rooms and 85,000 square feet of event space. Its team of seasoned industry experts includes an AAA-Four-Diamond-awarded planning team, as well as audiovisual support and catering. 

FAR WEST

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Gold: The Ranch 4.0

The Ranch is a leader in the growing trend of corporate wellness programs, hosting groups since its founding in 2010. The wellness retreat is an ideal destination for corporate groups of varying sizes, from 10 to 250 people. 
A dedicated staff is available to customize the program to the needs of each group. Meanwhile, the culinary team serves plant-based meals and can host cooking classes for groups. Guests can also participate in health and wellness programs led by skilled instructors, including daily hikes, fitness classes and yoga. 

Silver: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas was built with meetings and conventions in mind. Its team of industry professionals are on hand to assist, anticipate and partner with meeting planners to ensure their event will exceed expectations. The group housing services team handles group reservations, while group hotel services help plan the group's arrivals, departures and specific housing needs. Event services oversee the technical requirements of the meeting and facilitate any assistance needed, while the culinary team includes world-class chefs that can create custom menus tailored to group needs and tastes. An onsite team of floral designers is also available to create stunning arrangements for same-day delivery.

Bronze: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has a full-service events team that helps organizations design the environment, select entertainment and craft menus that align with the goals of the meeting and set the desired mood for attendees. The hotelier has also partnered with PSAV and has an in-house team of dedicated technicians that are on hand to ensure the event is executed flawlessly. 

INTERNATIONAL & U.S. TERRITORIES

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Gold: Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson

Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson is a tropical oasis in Malaysia, where idyllic views, modern design, superb quality and world-class facilities meet. The resort has a track record in providing state-of-the-art meeting spaces, coupled with a dedicated staff that is available to assist in the planning process.

The hotel can accommodate indoor gatherings of up to 400 guests and al fresco events of up to 1,200. Event organizers can enjoy impeccable service with every detail customized to meet their requirements, from venue décor and audiovisual equipment to delicious catering cuisine, group excursions and discounted room blocks.

Silver: Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai

The Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai offers more than 86,000 square feet of event space, as well as professional audio-visual services. The hotel's professional team ensures every detail of the event meets expectations. Groups can also take advantage of energizing activities, such as sunrise yoga and tai chi. 

Bronze: Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu has earned a reputation for being a leading meeting and incentive destination in the Philippines. The resort staff can help event professionals with everything from planning unique team building activities, to crafting health menus that focus on fresh, in-season produce from locally sourced suppliers.